I have spent over 25 years in the Irish Foreign Service, working around the world. Most recently, I’ve been serving as Consul General of Ireland in Manchester, covering the north of England. Representing Ireland abroad has been both an honour and a privilege. Yet, diplomacy wasn’t a career I had initially foreseen for myself when I began studying English literature and geography at university.
If I am honest, at that time, my passion was for English, but the degree was a joint honours, and when considering what additional subject to pursue I hit on geography. It proved to be one of the best decisions I’ve made. As a social science, geography blends the study of the natural world with human society, and it gave me a broad set of practical skills. While English has helped me in my work with writing, analysis and speech-making, geography offered tools that have been equally – if not more – important throughout my diplomatic career.
Your organisation does not have access to this article.
Sign up today to give your students the edge they need to achieve their best grades with subject expertise
Subscribe
